California Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Eugene Zelenko
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus agrifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- QUAG
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrocercops insulariella, Aholibah Underwing (Catocala aholibah), Bucculatrix albertiella, California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Caloptilia agrifoliella, Caloptilia diversilobiella, Caloptilia reticulata, Cameraria agrifoliella, Cameraria anomala, Cameraria wislizeniella, Chimoptesis chrysopyla, Chionodes acrina, Chionodes chrysopyla, Chionodes occidentella, Chionodes raspyon, Chionodes vanduzeei, Coptodisca powellella, Cosmia calami, Decodes fragariana, Dyseriocrania auricyanea, Epinotia emarginana, Eriocraniella aurosparsella, Eriocraniella xanthocara, Evippe sp., fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), Gloveria medusa, habrosana leafroller moth (Pseudexentera habrosana), Hemihyalea edwardsii, Henricus umbrabasanus, Hydriomena albifasciata, Mesogona subcuprea, Nemoria glaucomarginaria, Neurobathra bohartiella, Nevada buck moth (Hemileuca nevadensis), oak winter moth (Hydriomena nubilofasciata), Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia franciscana), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia citrana), Orthosia pacifica, Pacific tent caterpillar (Malacosoma constricta), Phyllonorycter antiochella, Phyllonorycter inusitatella, Phyllonorycter sandraella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Pseudoglaea olivata, Rectiostoma fernaldella, Recurvaria glinax, Stigmella variella, Stilbosis dulcedo, Synanthedon resplendens, Telphusa sedulitella, Tischeria discreta, Trachycera caliginella, Vespina quercivora, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Western tussock moth (Orgyia vetusta), Xenolechia staspa, Ypsolopha cervella, Bredow's sister (Adelpha bredowii), Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis), Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Moths:Bucculatrix albertiella, California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Coptodisca powellella, Orgyia Ochsenheimer, Pseudohemihyalea edwardsii, Stigmella variella, Western tussock moth (Orgyia vetusta) Butterflies:California Sister (Adelpha californica), Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer, insects
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown and epicormic buds after fire. Thick bark on mature trees provides some fire resistance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy loam or clay
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to coastal regions with seasonal rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Acorns have no dormancy and should be planted fresh in fall; they germinate readily with adequate moisture. Acorns are recalcitrant and cannot be dried for storage.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Soak clean acorns overnight in fresh water. Drain and rinse in a 5% bleach solution for 1 minute. Rinse. Place seeds in a plastic freezer bag with an equal amount of dry perlite. Keep in refrigerator at 15C. Check for germination after 1 month.
Establishment: Acorns are collected between September 1st and December 15th. Mature acorns are brown. Collect acorns as soon as base of acorn around the cup turns brown. Q. agrifolia is found from lower California to central California in the coast range below 1000 meters elevation and commonly found in valleys and slopes below 3,000 feet elevation; from coast ranges from Sonoma County to San Diego County to Lower California.
Source: npn.rngr.net